tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041Thu, 08 Sep 2016 04:22:04 +0000The Hook - Leinster Hockey's Only blogLeinster hockey's first blog - promoting feature writing and discussion and providing an extra outlet for hockey news in Ireland as well as other features on Irish sport.http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)Blogger1710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-3335688560664957509Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:49:00 +00002010-08-13T14:49:05.562+01:00The Hook moves to new expanded homeThe Hook is moving to an expanded new home at www.hookhockey.com. The new version of the site will endeavour to keep the spirit of the blog, carrying all the latest Leinster hockey news, reports and photos.
The site features a number of new elements to help you find your preferred content – whether it be club, school or international – in as few clicks as possible, changing from the blog format http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/hook-moves-to-new-expanded-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-2110730392730443435Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:03:00 +00002010-08-09T14:03:58.752+01:00Pembroke appoint Carolan as men's coachPembroke have again cast their net to South African to secure a coach, appointing Brendon Carolan (pictured) as their men’s first team coach for the 2010/11 season.
The 29 year old brings with him an impressive coaching CV, being named the South African Coach of the Year in 2009 as well as obtained an FIH High Performance qualification.
He is currently the men’s head coach of KwaZulu Natal in http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/pembroke-appoint-carolan-as-mens-coach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-1146739284317589215Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:56:00 +00002010-08-09T23:22:03.270+01:00Ireland complete Belgian whitewashIreland 2 (Alex Speers, Jean McDonnell) Belgium 1 (Morgane Vouche)
For the third day running, Ireland wrapped up victory with something to spare as they netted twice in the first half at the National Hockey Stadium and while, Morgane Vouche got the Belgians in range, the hosts always held the aces.
Alex Speers broke the deadlock in just the fifth minute when she dived to finish off fine http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/ireland-complete-belgian-whitewash.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-1560293354117280693Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:44:00 +00002010-08-09T23:08:07.401+01:00Ireland notch second comfortable Belgian winIreland 3 (Cliodhna Sargent, Nikki Evans, Miriam Crowley) Belgium 1 (Valerie Vermeersch)
Ireland again showed an enterprising spirit as they swept by Belgium for a second day running at the National Hockey Stadium as both sides continue with experimental sides.
Emma Clarke returned to the side, coming in for Anna O’Flanagan in the match day 16, for her 99th cap but eight of the squad would be http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/ireland-notch-second-comfortable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-5992676091083927453Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:35:00 +00002010-08-06T21:34:08.595+01:00Young Irish end losing run in styleIreland 4 (Michelle Harvey 2, Nikki Evans 2) Belgium 0
A four-star second half performance saw Ireland end their Belgian hoodoo in fine fashion at the National Hockey Stadium as Nikki Evans and Michelle Harvey (pictured, right) both scored twice.
It ended the country’s ten game losing streak in the best possible manner as a number of players made serious cases for inclusion in Gene Muller’s http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/young-irish-end-losing-run-in-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-6140589205821851286Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:41:00 +00002010-08-05T16:25:23.040+01:00Chiefs salute men's league reshuffleThe men’s Leinster league restructure will see the return of division nine while division two will remain in its existing format for the upcoming season, rising to seven in numbers following the formation of a new club, the Rathgar Chiefs.
Based in High School’s idyllic Danum grounds, the Chiefs were formed this summer from a group of recent university graduates looking to continue playing http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/chiefs-salute-mens-league-reshuffle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-7244624398646375893Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:28:00 +00002010-08-03T11:28:36.582+01:00Jermyn back in Ireland fold for Malaysian tiesPaul Revington plans to use at least 25 players as Ireland’s men return to their international schedule after a brief summer break as the build-up to 2011’s European championships ramps up with a four-game series against Malaysia from August 18 to 22.
The coach had named four separate groups of 15 players for each of the four-game series which precedes a five-nations tournament in Paris a week http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/jermyn-back-in-ireland-fold-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-1286936134604757571Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:24:00 +00002010-08-03T10:25:40.949+01:00McConnell returns, Clarke in line for 100Ireland will stick with a similar, experimental make-up to the squad which played Scotland recently with Gene Muller making two changes to the panel for next weekend’s series against Belgium.
Kate McConnell (left) returns to the senior panel for the first time since July 2008 when she featured in the Celtic Cup in Garryduff with Stephanie Quinn stepping out of the selection for these games, to http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/08/mcconnell-returns-clark-in-line-for-100.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-232526313437111942Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:27:00 +00002010-07-29T03:30:06.297+01:00Hooked! returns in early SeptemberJust two weeks remain before the early bird offer expires for the IHA’s annual Hooked! Coaching Conference.
The IHA are currently offering a 25pc discount to the €60 price for the conference which gets underway in early September.
Senior international coaches Paul Revington and Gene Muller, along with IHA High Performance Director Dave Passmore will be among the key presenters.
They will coverhttp://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/hooked-returns-in-early-september.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-6606346697852049286Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:26:00 +00002010-07-26T22:26:00.671+01:00Malaysians set to return for Irish seriesPaul Revington’s Irish men’s team have a busy August in store as Malaysia have been confirmed as visitors for a four match series (times and dates to be confirmed) before taking on a five nations event in Paris.
Ranked 14 in the world, Malaysia are the highest placed side Revington has beaten with Ireland since taking over the post in November 2008, getting the better of the Asian side 2-1 in http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/malaysians-set-to-return-for-irish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-1078646260980736999Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:50:00 +00002010-07-25T20:50:04.727+01:00Scots complete clean sweep over Irish womenSenior Women's international challenge match
Scotland 3 (Kareena Marshall, Susan Hamilton, Aimee Clark) Ireland 1 (Alex Speers)
Scotland completed a clean sweep from their three match series with Ireland this afternoon in Forthbank, finding it a smoother transition to bed in their three new squad additions than Ireland’s sixth.
Old Alex goalkeeper Pamela Smithwick was the latest new Irish cap, http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/scots-complete-clean-sweep-over-irish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-2125203081205975724Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:30:00 +00002010-07-25T11:31:55.207+01:00McDonnell strike not enough for IrelandSenior women's international challenge match
Scotland 2 (Louise Baxter, Vikki Bunce) Ireland 1 (Jean McDonnell)
Despite Jean McDonnell’s stunning second half effort, an experimental Ireland side fell 2-1 to a Scottish side also using this series to assess their options as the Forthbank hosts fielded two debutants for Saturday’s tie.
The Scots took the lead midway through the first half followinghttp://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/mcdonnell-strike-not-enough-for-ireland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-3532176710285501207Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:02:00 +00002010-07-24T19:02:57.351+01:00Five make debut but Kidd settles tieSenior women's international challenge match
Scotland 1 (Nikki Kidd) Ireland 0
Gene Muller handed five Irish players their first senior international caps but they were unable to turn the tide against Scotland as a 40th minute goal settled the tie with Nikki Kidd dragging home the winner in the first of the three match series in Forthbank on Friday night.
Emma Clarke, elevated to captain on her http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/five-make-debut-but-kidd-settles-tie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-6165155783200017617Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:28:00 +00002010-07-24T18:53:08.312+01:00Six debutants in for Scotland seriesGene Muller has named six uncapped players in his squad for this weekend’s three-match series against Scotland in Stirling this weekend.
The selection comes 13 months before Ireland’s first shot at claiming an Olympic spot at the European championships in Monchengladbach in late August 2011 with this series – and three games against Belgium in a fortnight – a showcase for the possibles with ten http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/six-debutants-in-for-scotland-series.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-5525629189197811763Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:21:00 +00002010-07-22T12:24:05.304+01:00Indoor groups named for 2010/11 seasonThe line-up for the group stages of the National Indoor Trophy were released earlier this week with initial rounds of the competition in December and January, leading to the finals weekend in the NBA on Ferbuary 12 and 13, 2011.
Lisburn will be a new venue for the competition as two men’s and two women’s team from Ulster enter the competition – Belfast Harlequins and Annadale in the former; http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/indoor-groups-named-for-201011-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-257912020484483611Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:46:00 +00002010-07-19T23:46:38.564+01:00Irish produce first ever Home Nations doubleIreland’s U-18 boys and girls completed a first ever Home Nations double at Garryduff yesterday, both picking up the results they required from their final game of the four nations competition.
Needing only a draw to annex the title, the boys recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over Wales while the women cut it much finer.
They lost 1-0 to Scotland but prevailed in a three-way tie in the final http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/irish-produce-first-ever-home-nations.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-8137155109430394399Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:58:00 +00002010-07-18T23:22:55.682+01:00U-18 double on cards for IrishAn U-18 Home Nations double is still on the cards as the Irish boys and girls both overcame England at Garryduff this afternoon and require a single point from tomorrow’s third series of games to annex their respective titles.
Tom Samuel struck twice to overhaul an English first half lead in the boy’s game to notch a 2-1 win as they prevailed in spite of three yellow card sin-binnings.
The http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/u-18-double-on-cards-for-irish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-2017673339945479723Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:26:00 +00002010-07-18T18:18:00.985+01:00Gray and Surgeoner fire Irish U-18sNicola Gray’s corner smash and Vanessa Surgeoner’s deliciously timed second half strike handed Ireland the win their dominance deserved against Wales at Garryduff this evening for whom goalkeeper Roseanne Thomas was outstanding.
Gray battered home a trademark corner from the girls in green’s first set piece in the fifth minute but from then on Thomas kept out numerous of her straight hits – fivehttp://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/gray-and-surgeoner-fire-irish-u-18s.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-2203581270006171706Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:23:00 +00002010-07-18T18:17:45.772+01:00O'Donoghue's four downs ScotlandShane O’Donoghue’s brilliant quadruple fired Ireland’s U-18 boys to a 4-2 win over Scotland in their opening Home Nations tie at Garryduff this afternoon, firing three inside the first half.
It was a tally of sheer quality as the Irish held off a Ben Peterson-inspired second half fightback when the Irish looked to have let their early dominance slip.
The Glenanne man (pictured) opened the http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/odonoghues-four-downs-scotland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-6237735320402439033Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:13:00 +00002010-07-17T18:13:04.168+01:00Girls settle for fourth; boys evade relegationIreland U-16 girls rallied late but left it too late as Belgium took bronze at the European Championships in Barcelona with a 2-1 win to end a dramatic week.
Sharp-shooter Katie Mullan fired home a 64th minute corner and pressure in the closing minutes earned another corner on the final whistle for Ireland. But they were unable to convert a set-piece which would have earned extra-time in the http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/girls-settle-for-fourth-boys-evade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-6171551342215227593Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:30:00 +00002010-07-17T13:30:39.436+01:00Irish react angrily to Dutch "physical" claimsIreland U-16 girls' management have reacted angrily to Dutch claims of an overly robust approach described as "totally inappropriate" in the wake of their 5-1 semi-final defeat yesterday afternoon.
Speaking to hockey.nl, Dutch coach Kai de Jager said: "It was just physical force/violence which I thought was totally inappropriate. They had no intention to play hockey and just hung around in fronthttp://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/irish-react-angrily-to-dutch-physical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-4500215729649768925Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:45:00 +00002010-07-16T23:45:49.865+01:00Dutch deny Irish girls final placeUna McCarthy’s Ireland U-16 girls were unable to halt the Dutch juggernaut but did show up reasonably well in the physical exchanges against a side that had already battered 43 goals from three games to date in the tournament.
Captain Frederique Derkx netted four times – two corners and two strokes – in her side’s 5-1 win over the girls in green though Chloe Brown did pull one back from play to http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/dutch-deny-irish-girls-final-place.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-3622445742608826379Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:31:00 +00002010-07-15T11:39:41.865+01:00Irish Hockey Photographers launch new online homeIrish hockey's top photographers have joined forces to launch a new one-stop shop - http://irishhockeyphotographers.zenfolio.com - for players, parents and fans to purchase top-class pictures.
The Irish Hockey Photographers collective was founded in 2008 in association with Ireland's dedicated hockey news websites, The Hook and Southern Fried.
The team of amateur snappers has grown to http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/irish-hockey-photographers-launch-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-7709934880485437181Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:07:00 +00002010-07-15T11:07:04.269+01:00Irish U-18 panels named for Home NationsThe Irish U-18 boys and girl’s panels have been named for this weekend’s Home Nations competition to be held in Garryduff, Cork this weekend.
The boys side gets its nucleus from the Wesley and Banbridge sides. The former – who claimed three schools titles this year – provide five of the 18 player panel while Bann have three panellists, though their contingent could have been more had Robin Smyrlhttp://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/irish-u-18-panels-named-for-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147439334930274041.post-7351135080663806782Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:22:00 +00002010-07-15T10:22:29.903+01:00Girls set for Dutch semi; Boys miss last four placeIreland’s U-16 girls advanced to the semi-finals of the European championships as they beat Russia 4-0 in Barcelona this evening to finish second in their group behind Spain. They will face the daunting prospect of the Netherlands in the final four; a side who scored a massive 43 goals in their three initial group games.
Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan both grabbed their second goals of the http://hookhockey.blogspot.com/2010/07/girls-set-for-dutch-semi-boys-miss-last.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Stephen Findlater)0